(From ABS-CBN News)
Nonoy Baclao, winner of the Best Player award in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) 2009 season, plans to join the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) so he can play with the country’s best hard court stars.
The 6-foot-4 power forward, who helped Ateneo win back-to-back championships in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP), said he plans to sign up for the country’s premier basketball league after he finishes his studies this year.
“Hangga’t maaari, tapusin ko yung pag-aaaral ko and then coming August siguro magpapadraft ako [sa PBA]. Basta tatapusin ko ang aral ko kasi ‘yun ang promise ko sa nanay ko,” said the 22-year-old Baclao.
Baclao, who received his PCCL Collegiate Player of the Year award last Friday, is currently playing for the Philippine Patriots in the Asean Basketball League (ABL).
He said his exposure to the international brand of play is also helping him prepare for the big league.
“Yung exposure [sa ABL], okay. Nae-expose kami sa physicality ng laro… para hindi na kami manibago sa PBA,” he said.
Baclao thanked members of the Ateneo team, particularly coach Norman Black, for helping him polish his game.
Under Black’s tutelage, the former West University standout, turned from pure scorer to a hard court leader. This earned him the nod for the PCCL Best Player plum.
“Coach taught us to make use of your teammates para manalo kayo. ‘Tsaka yung leadership in and outside the court,” he said.
For his part, Black said Baclao’s ability to transform himself from scorer to defender worked wonders for their team.
“When he joined our team, he pretty much boarded to his role on the team as a defender, as the guy who really supported Rabeh Al-Hussaini offensively,” said the multi-awarded coach.
“That’s probably why he was named player of the year. It’s not all about just how many points you score, but how well can you make your other team mates, how can you make them better players,” he added.
Nonoy Baclao, winner of the Best Player award in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) 2009 season, plans to join the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) so he can play with the country’s best hard court stars.
The 6-foot-4 power forward, who helped Ateneo win back-to-back championships in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP), said he plans to sign up for the country’s premier basketball league after he finishes his studies this year.
“Hangga’t maaari, tapusin ko yung pag-aaaral ko and then coming August siguro magpapadraft ako [sa PBA]. Basta tatapusin ko ang aral ko kasi ‘yun ang promise ko sa nanay ko,” said the 22-year-old Baclao.
Baclao, who received his PCCL Collegiate Player of the Year award last Friday, is currently playing for the Philippine Patriots in the Asean Basketball League (ABL).
He said his exposure to the international brand of play is also helping him prepare for the big league.
“Yung exposure [sa ABL], okay. Nae-expose kami sa physicality ng laro… para hindi na kami manibago sa PBA,” he said.
Baclao thanked members of the Ateneo team, particularly coach Norman Black, for helping him polish his game.
Under Black’s tutelage, the former West University standout, turned from pure scorer to a hard court leader. This earned him the nod for the PCCL Best Player plum.
“Coach taught us to make use of your teammates para manalo kayo. ‘Tsaka yung leadership in and outside the court,” he said.
For his part, Black said Baclao’s ability to transform himself from scorer to defender worked wonders for their team.
“When he joined our team, he pretty much boarded to his role on the team as a defender, as the guy who really supported Rabeh Al-Hussaini offensively,” said the multi-awarded coach.
“That’s probably why he was named player of the year. It’s not all about just how many points you score, but how well can you make your other team mates, how can you make them better players,” he added.
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